Can I increase protien using TVP?

My quail are molting. I'm currently feeding them game bird layer crumbles. Can I increase the protein levels, to help with feather growing, by adding in Textured Vegetable Protein AKA TVP? I have a ton of it laying around because I use it for backpacking meals.

Quote:WHOA, WAIT A MINUTE HERE! THIS IS GROSSLY INCORRECT. SOY IS THE NUMBER 1 SOURCE OF PROTIEN IN ALL GAMEBIRD FEEDS AND MOST POULTRY FEEDS IN GENERAL. THAT WOULD BE RAW SOY BEAN MEAL. RAW SOY BEAN MEAL IS CONSIDERED 48-50% PROTIEN AND WOULD BE THE BEST USED ADDITIVE FOR ANY GAMEBIRD IF USED IN MODERATION. NOW THIS BACKPACKING GOO STUFF? I HAVE NO IDEA WHATS IN THAT! FURTHERMORE I WOULDNT FEED IT TO MY BIRDS AS ITS HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT IT DOESNT HAVE SOME SORT OF ETHYL- METHYL TERRIBLE TYPE OF WEIRD PRESERVATIVES OR OTHER JUNK ADDED- GIVEN THE SIZE OF THE ANIMAL IN QUESTION IT WOULDNT TAKE MUCH OF ANYTHING TO BE TOXIC OR HARMFUL. IF YOU MUST SUPPLIMENT BEST THING TO DO IS GET GAMEBIRD STARTER AND FEED IT STRAIT, OR ADD A TINY AMOUNT OF SOY BEAN MEAL FROM YOUR FEED STORE

Not goo, granules, it looks a lot crumble. It's 100% defatted soy flour, cooked then dried soybeans, no preservatives... might make it into a mash tomorrow and see if the girls like it. I'd rather use what I have around the house then go out and buy something.​

I am with JJMR on this one. I know TVP and use it. It would be safe for chickens or quail but at about half the amount you would give of startena using the "pearson square".

A bag of startena is way way cheaper. Your TVP will last indefinately stored properly. Save the expensive stuff for yourself and if you feel you want to supplement use the startena. None of my birds get my TVP, heck Amaranth is cheaper I think.

Quote:WHOA, WAIT A MINUTE HERE! THIS IS GROSSLY INCORRECT. SOY IS THE NUMBER 1 SOURCE OF PROTIEN IN ALL GAMEBIRD FEEDS AND MOST POULTRY FEEDS IN GENERAL. THAT WOULD BE RAW SOY BEAN MEAL. RAW SOY BEAN MEAL IS CONSIDERED 48-50% PROTIEN AND WOULD BE THE BEST USED ADDITIVE FOR ANY GAMEBIRD IF USED IN MODERATION. NOW THIS BACKPACKING GOO STUFF? I HAVE NO IDEA WHATS IN THAT! FURTHERMORE I WOULDNT FEED IT TO MY BIRDS AS ITS HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT IT DOESNT HAVE SOME SORT OF ETHYL- METHYL TERRIBLE TYPE OF WEIRD PRESERVATIVES OR OTHER JUNK ADDED- GIVEN THE SIZE OF THE ANIMAL IN QUESTION IT WOULDNT TAKE MUCH OF ANYTHING TO BE TOXIC OR HARMFUL. IF YOU MUST SUPPLIMENT BEST THING TO DO IS GET GAMEBIRD STARTER AND FEED IT STRAIT, OR ADD A TINY AMOUNT OF SOY BEAN MEAL FROM YOUR FEED STORE

"If beans are used, they must be roasted or steamed to destroy the antinutritional factors. All commercial soybean meals are processed in this way before being sold as feed ingredients. Raw soybeans should never be fed to poultry or game birds."http://msucares.com/poultry/feeds/poultry_soybeans.html

TVP = Textured Vegetable Protein made from soy bean meal. For people and I would say birds also, it does need to be hydrated as it will expand 3 times its size. You can eat it raw as it has already been cooked, but it is bland and needs flavor added, best done by heating. The soy beans are cooked, ground and dehydrated. You add it to ground meat to extend it. It picks up any flavor you add to it. I can make you a meatloaf that you cannot tell it has been added to. I make it that way all the time.

Its been around at least since the early 70's. They make it for people and animals. Not much difference other than price. People TVP meal though is way more expensive and it probably comes from the very same place. If you have eaten any fast food, you have eaten it.